Knocked-down or portable structure



G. A. FAIK.

KNOCKED DOWN 0R PORTABLE STRUCTURE.-

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25| 1920.

1,374,994. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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ATTORNEY G. A. FAIK.

KNOCKED DOWN 0R PORTABLE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.25, |920.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG.25,I920.

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GEORG-E'ADAM FAIR, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

xNocKED-DOWN oa PQRTABLE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19,1921.

Application led August 25, 1920. Serial No. 406,001.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. FAIK, (a former subject of Hungary, who has applied for citizenship of the United States,) residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful IImprovements in Knocked-Down or Portable Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for an object to provide an improved construction of framing for use in army tents, collapsible and foldable boats and tubs, etc., and, in its general nature, comprises a frame having rigid corner unionsinto which are detachably socketedthe ends of the tubes or collapsible frame poles, the latter being composed of a plurality of separate lengths of tubes arranged end to end and held spaced apart a short distance by suitable devices through the medium of which they are attached to the fabric coveringthe ends being held spaced apart a short distance to enable folding, the

tubes inclosing an inner -rod which slides with neat fit in the tube and is itself composed of sections linked together by collapsiblejoints with retaining devices at the eX- treme ends of the inner rod, whereby, when the inner rod is locked to the outer tube structure, the joints of the inner rod will be wholly located within the tube sections, portions of the rods serving to close the gaps between adjacent tube section ends and also the fastening devices hold the inner rod with its sections Ain end contact throughout its length, thereby forming a rigid pole, as it were, for supportingthe fabric of the tent, boat, tub or other struc-ture as the case may be, the tube sectionsbeing preferably of such length as to adapt the structure to be folded up to go into an army pack.

In its more detailed nature, the invention includes those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention to an army shelter tent.

Fig. 2 is a plan of one-half of the tent.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the other half ofthe tent.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of the frame, with one of the rod fastening devices.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the frame showing the inner rods in locked position.

Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the innerl rod at the unlocked position with the joint exposed for folding and showing the means for fastening the tubes to the fabric.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 on Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of an army pack showing the tent folded into the pack.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing how the tent may be staked to the ground.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the adaptation of the invention to a tub for containing water or other fluid (a-bath tub for example). l

Fig. ll is a perspective view illustrating the adaptation Aof the invention to a Gollapsible boat.

Fig. l2 is a detail perspective View showing the interlocking joint between the outer tube end and the corner fixture.

In the drawings in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, l represents the outer tubular sections of the frame which, in practice, when the frame is used for an army shelter tent, are made in standard lengths of siX to twelve inches, although itr should be understood that other lengths may be employed if found desirable.

The outer tubular sections 1 are provided with collars 2 having one or more ears 3, through which they may be sewed at 4 to the fabric 5 to hold the tubes against endwise displacement.

The tubes may also be covered by a strip `of fabric 6, as shown in detail in Figs. 6

and 7, or the fabric may be looped over the tubes, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

7 designates the sections of the inner rod, which may be solid or tubular as desired, the ends 8 being flattened and provided with elon ated eyes 9 to coperate with the links 10. g.['he links l0 closely conform to the Haps of the flattened portions 8 so as to hold the rods 7 in alinement when it is desired to move them to the locked or operative position.

Corner pieces 11 are provided with suitable means so that the tubes 1 may be socketed into the corner pieces in one position only.'-For example, the socket members may be provided with pins 12 passing through off center and the tubes 1 may be cut with corresponding slots 1-1, the tubesv being held to the fixtures 11 by set screws 13 or other suitable devices.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11. the fabric 5 maybe folded over at 15 to inclose the tubes 1 and, when the invention is applied to water containing tubs or to boats where the vertical height is not very great, the vertical members 16 may be made of one piece tubing.

When the invention is adapted to a boat, the bow poles are each composed of two tubes, 1a and 1, and corresponding rod lengths, one of thev tubes being a long one and the other a short one. The long tube 1a corresponds in length to the tube 1b of the cross pole or brace, so that. when the tube 1a is unsocketed, it may be folded up against the tube 1b and the break-joints 1X will come together, thus making it convenient 5' for folding.

The manner of fastening the rod lengths in the locked position is best illustrated in Fig. 4, by reference to which it will be seen that the. end tube length 1 is provided with an elongatedslot 17, merging with a bayonet slot 18, while the adjacent end of the rod 7 is provided with a finger piece 19 adapted to move in the slots'17 and 18.

2() is a ferrule secured on the tube section 1 and slotted to conform to the adjacent parts of the slots 17-18. The ferrule 20 is threaded at 21 and provided with a milled nut 22 which, when the finger piece 19 is in the slot'18 may be screwed up against the same to prevent accidental unlocking.

I prefer to provide a locking device at each end of a pole, as indicated in Fig. Q,

though, under certain conditions in certain structures. one locking device may prove sufficient.

Suitable stakes 23 maybe provided with hook portions 24 adapted to hook over the. rods flat the spaces between the ends of the tubes 1 and form a part of the tent equipment. These stakes are convenient for being'forced into the ground by foot pressure. They are indicated in detail in Fig. 5).

`While I have illustrated my invention in its adaptation to several tarticles. it will be clear that with more or less modifications` it may be adapted to other structures and I do lnot wish to be confined to the specific structures illustrated beyond what is specifically set forth in the appended claims.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction. the operation and the advantages 0f the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

It is to be noted, however, that in the army tent structure, at. two ends of the tent structure short tube lengths 1y are placed at each side of the central end length 1Z. The object of this is that, in folding the tent, the short lengths 1y will be those at the ends ofthe pack, see Fig. 8, and enables the tent to be wrapped around other articles of the pack.

It will, of course, be understood that the tubes will be made in any suitable lengths to adapt thesame to the particular purpose in view.

What I claim is:

1. In a structure of the character described, a frame composed of end corner fixtures and poles, said poles comprising a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart. rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and fiexibly linked together, and rod and tube in terlocking devices at the ends of said tubes whereby to hold the pole rod sections in endwise. abutment with the joints inclosed by said tubes.

2. In a structure of the rcharacter de'- scribed, a frame composed of end corner fixtures and poles. said poles comprising a by said tubes. and a fabric body to which said tubes arev secured.

In a structure of the character described, a frame composed of end corner fixtures and poles, said poles comprising a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart. rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and fiexibly linkedtogether, rod and tube interlocking devices at the ends 0f said tubes whereby to hold the pole rod sections in endwise abutment with the joints inclosed by said tubes, a fabric body to which said tubes are secured, said tubes of a series be? ing of different lengths and said rods of the same series being of correspondinglyl different lengths.

4t. In a structure of thecharacter described. a frame composed of end corner fixtures and poles. said poles comprising a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart. rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and flexibly linked together. rod and tube interlocking devices at the ends of said poles-` in the slots and holding devices adjacent lto the slots adapted to engage said studs to prevent displacement thereof when in the locked position.

5. In a structure of the character described, a frame composedof end corner fixtures and poles, said poles comprising a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart, rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and flexibly linked together, rod and tube interlocking devices at the ends of said tubes whereby to hold the pole rod sections in endwise abutment with the joints inclosed by said tubes, a fabric body to which said tubes are secured, said interlocking devices comprising bayonet slots in the end tubes and studs on the adjacent rod sections slidable in the slots and holding devices adjacent to the slots adapted to engage said studs to prevent displacement thereof when in the locked position.

6. In a structure of the character described, a frame composed of end corner fixtures and poles, said poles comprising a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart, rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and flexibly linked together, rod and tube interlocking devices at the ends of said tubes whereby to hold the pole rod sections in endwise abutment with the joints inclosed by said tubes, a fabric body to which said tubes are secured, said tubes of a series being of ldifferent lengths and said rods of the same series being of correspondingly different lengths, said interlocking devices comprising bayonet slots in the end tubes and studs on the adjacent rod sections slidable in the slots and holding devices adjacent to the slots adapted to engage said studs to prevent displacement thereof when in the locked position.

7. In a tent structure, a section comprising a rectangular Jframe and a fabric sheet to which the frame is adapted to be attached, said frame comprising corner fixtures and poles detachably interlocked with said fixtures, each of said poles comprising a series of tube sections and a series of rod sections slidably fitting in the tube sections and flexible joints between the respective rod sections, means securing said tube sections to said fabric sheet against displacement with the opposing ends of adjacent tube sections separated toy leave folding places for the fabric, means by which the rod lengths may be slid inthe tube as a unit `to bring the joints of the rod either wholly within the tube sections or Wholly at the spaces between the ends of the same correspondinglyas the rod is in the locked or unlocked position, and means for holding the rod sections fast in the locked position.v

8. Ina tent structure, a section comprising a rectangularu frame and a fabric sheet to which the frame is adapted to be attached, said frame comprising cornervfixtures and poles detachably interlocked with said fiX- tures each of said poles comprising a series of tube sections and a series of rod sections slidably fitting in the tube sections and flexible joints between the respective rod sections, means securing said tube sections to said fabric-sheet against displacement with the opposing ends of adjacent tube sections separated to leave folding places for the fabric, means by which the rod lengths may lbe slid in the tube as a unit to bring the joints of the rod either wholly within the tube sections or wholly at the spaces between the ends of the same correspondingly as the rod is in the locke-d or unlocked position, means for holding the rod sections fast in the locked position, said means comprising a stud on certain rod lengths, certain tube lengths having a bayonet slot and a member for holding said stud in the bayonet slot in the locked position.

9. In a structure of the character described, a pole comprising a series of tubes.,

held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart, rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes and fieXibly linked together, and rod and tube interlocking devices whereby to hold the pole rod sections in endwise abutment with the joints inclosed by said tubes.

l0. In a structure of the class described, a pole composed of a series of tubes held in endwise alinement with their ends spaced apart, rod sections slidably fitting within said tubes, links connecting the ends of said rod sections together to hold said rods to abut one another endwise when in the locked position, a bayonet slot in at least one of said tubesha stud on the adjacent rod cooperating with said bayonet slot and a holding device for engaging said stud to keep it in the lock mathe bayonet slot substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE ADAM FAIK. 

